Unit name | Societal Change and the Transformation of Work |
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Unit code | SPOL32025 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Doogan |
Open unit status | Open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School for Policy Studies |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit explores the interaction between the transformation of work and the key drivers of societal development such as globalisation, technological change & institutional restructuring. It is said that traditional stable forms of employment have been replaced by insecure jobs and uncertain futures. The pace of change is said to engender a precariousness and a greater sense of individualisation. This unit will look critically at these claims and seek to explain the gap between public perception and statistical evidence of social change.
The unit aims to expose students to the key debates about societal transformation as they relate to the transformation of work. The impact of globalisation and the spread of neoliberalism will be explored in relation to the restructuring of the state and the delivery of welfare services. The emergence of new patterns of employment, occupational and industrial change will be critically examined, and the role and pace of technological change will be reviewed in relation to the recomposition of the workforce. The unit aims to achieve a balanced assessment of the major factors which both express and suppress the change dynamic. It will also explore the gap between the material and discursive realities in the representation of societal transformation. The labour market impacts of the ‘Great Recession’ will also provide a focus for discussion and debate.
Upon successful completion of this unit students will have acquired:
Twelve, one hour lectures followed by one hour which will be a mix of classes and clinics.
All assessment will be against the assessment criteria for level H work, as in the Social Policy Programme Handbook.